Pages

Thursday, April 30, 2015

There are so many books this month. There are actually 24 books releasing this month that I am interested in checking out! It took a lot of work to narrow down this list. In other words I have a lot of honorable mentions today. There are also some summer themed books starting to release and it is making me realize that summer is just around the corner. When did that happen? Check out below to see my most anticipated books releasing in May and hopefully add some of them to your TBR pile!

This innovative, heartfelt debut novel tells the story of a girl who’s literally allergic to the outside world. When a new family moves in next door, she begins a complicated romance that challenges everything she’s ever known. The narrative unfolds via vignettes, diary entries, texts, charts, lists, illustrations, and more.

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

COMING SEPTEMBER 1st 2015

Everything, Everything sounds like nothing I have ever read before. I think it is going to be romantic, profound, and eye opening. The cover pulled me in from the beginning (it is gorgeous!) and then when I read the synopsis I was hooked! I have also heard other bloggers saying fantastic things about it.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Regan Flay is on the cusp of achieving her control-freak mother's "plan" for high school success―cheerleading, student council, the Honor Society—until her life gets turned horribly, horribly upside down. Every bitchy text. Every bitchy email. Every lie, manipulation, and insult she's ever said have been printed out and taped to all the lockers in school.

Now Regan has gone from popular princess to total pariah.

The only person who even speaks to her is her former best friend's hot but socially miscreant brother, Nolan Letner. Nolan thinks he knows what Regan's going through, but whatnobody knows is that Regan isn't really Little Miss Perfect. In fact, she's barely holding it together under her mom's pressure. But the consequences of Regan's fall from grace are only just beginning. Once the chain reaction starts, no one will remain untouched...

Friday, April 24, 2015

Everyone knows Bone Gap is full of gaps—gaps to trip you up, gaps to slide through so you can disappear forever. So when young, beautiful Roza went missing, the people of Bone Gap weren’t surprised. After all, it wasn’t the first time that someone had slipped away and left Finn and Sean O’Sullivan on their own. Just a few years before, their mother had high-tailed it to Oregon for a brand new guy, a brand new life. That’s just how things go, the people said. Who are you going to blame?

Finn knows that’s not what happened with Roza. He knows she was kidnapped, ripped from the cornfields by a dangerous man whose face he cannot remember. But the searches turned up nothing, and no one believes him anymore. Not even Sean, who has more reason to find Roza than anyone, and every reason to blame Finn for letting her go.

As we follow the stories of Finn, Roza, and the people of Bone Gap—their melancholy pasts, their terrifying presents, their uncertain futures—acclaimed author Laura Ruby weaves a heartbreaking tale of love and loss, magic and mystery, regret and forgiveness—a story about how the face the world sees is never the sum of who we are.

REVIEW:

Bone Gap is a book you want to go into not knowing what to expect. This is what I did and my mind was taken on a stunning wild ride. I don't think any words can truly describe Bone Gap but I will give it my best shot. Bone Gap is a magical, unique, captivating, and thought provoking read.

This story pulls you in from the first chapter. The book is set in a very small town and I loved what that added to the story. You get pulled into the town of Bone Gap and it is like nothing else exists. The townspeople were also fantastic. Every character had a different type of personality and I loved that. There was great social diversity between them and it was very interesting to watch them all interact and go through their everyday lives. My favorite character was Finn. Finn is a boy lost in the clouds and the moment you read his narration you cannot help but immediately feel for him.

Talking about feels....this book makes you feel all of them! This book is definitely filled with a feeling of sadness. But it is not a in your face and consuming sadness that upsets you it is written in a way that is underlining and just kind of sneaks up on you. When it is written this way I think it has an even bigger impact on the reader. You will immediately become invested in Finn and all the other characters emotions. The story is told in alternating points of view which I always enjoy because you get to understand enjoy character more and see the story unravel from all sides.

I also very much enjoyed reading the budding romance between Finn and Petey. I thought they were a perfect match for each other and added something each others lives. The romance does play an important role in the story and both of these characters growth but the book does not revolve around it. Petey ends up finding something (you will not see this coming at all) that reveals a lot about Finn and what he is going through.

This book is a magic realism story. In other words their are some parts that are very unique and will not make sense at first. This is a book the you have to have some patience to read. Things are not revealed until the last couple chapters. When I say you must have patience that does not mean the book is slow. It is not that at all. I actually read the book extremely fast because I needed to understand what was going on and the reasoning behind it. I could not put it down. I loved the magic realism aspect because it makes you think more and it makes the story more mesmerizing and enchanting.

The thing that made Bone Gap even better is that it is not one thing. Bone Gap can be interpreted as a contemporary read about these characters and their growth, it doubles as a mystery as you try to discover where is and what happened to Roza, and it is also a unique story about a magical world. Bone Gap will have you entranced in this story and the town within seconds. If you are a fan of magic realism that also enjoys books that make you think and see things differently (also don't forget those feels!) then this is a book I highly recommend for you.

In an exhilarating new series, New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine rewrites history, creating a dangerous world where the Great Library of Alexandria has survived the test of time.…

Ruthless and supremely powerful, the Great Library is now a presence in every major city, governing the flow of knowledge to the masses. Alchemy allows the Library to deliver the content of the greatest works of history instantly—but the personal ownership of books is expressly forbidden.

Jess Brightwell believes in the value of the Library, but the majority of his knowledge comes from illegal books obtained by his family, who are involved in the thriving black market. Jess has been sent to be his family’s spy, but his loyalties are tested in the final months of his training to enter the Library’s service.

When he inadvertently commits heresy by creating a device that could change the world, Jess discovers that those who control the Great Library believe that knowledge is more valuable than any human life—and soon both heretics and books will burn.…

COMING JULY 7th 2015

I have loved Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampires series, so when I saw she had a new book series coming out I immediately checked it out. It is literally a book about books! Of course I am going to pick this up as soon as it comes out!

Monday, April 20, 2015

Perfect for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson and Gayle Forman, Every Last Promise is a provocative and emotional novel about a girl who must decide between keeping quiet and speaking up after witnessing a classmate's sexual assault.

Kayla saw something at the party that she wasn't supposed to. But she hasn't told anyone. No one knows the real story about what happened that night--about why Kayla was driving the car that ran into a ditch after the party, about what she saw in the hours leading up to the accident, and about the promise she made to her friend Bean before she left for the summer.

Now Kayla's coming home for her senior year. If Kayla keeps quiet, she might be able to get her old life back. If she tells the truth, she risks losing everything--and everyone--she ever cared about.

REVIEW:

The thing that stood out for me in Every Last Promise was how Kristin Halbrook depicted Rape. She makes it very clear in the book that rape is not an act of sex but an act of power and violence. I thought it was very important of Halbrook to make this point since the discussion of rape has at times been very deluded in our society. I think this is very important for teens to read and learn to understand. Halbrook was able to show how difficult this violent crime was for the girl who sadly went through it and the turmoil the witness goes through. She was able to write a powerful book about the importance of speaking up.

I would say this book is definitely a character driven book. Plot wise not a lot happens. The main focus of the story is Kayla's struggle of keeping this terrible secret and the way the town and her classmates react to what happened. Since the book is character driven it is a slower read which I do not mind but I know some people do. The book is under 300 pages though. The story is told in alternating chapters where it switches back and forth between now and before. I thought this made the book more interesting because you were seeing the aftermath but were also able to see what life was like beforehand, what led up to the crime, and what really happened.

There were only two things that I did not like in this book. In the flashbacks when everybody is still friends and having fun I felt at times the author was trying to hard for the dialogue to sound like teenagers and it came off sounding unrealistic and silly at times. Also, I thought some of the reactions that happened in the book were also unrealistic and dramatic. At one point the boys actually burn down a house in retaliation and everybody just stands there and does nothing. I did see the important points/themes the author was trying to get across in these acts though so I did not dwell on it too much.

Every Last Promise is a thought provoking and character driven book about speaking the truth and standing up for what is right.

Fans of John Green's Looking for Alaska as well as Lauren Oliver and Sarah Dessen will embrace this provocative debut novel, an exploration of taboo love set against the backdrop of a suburban high school.

Charlie, a senior, isn't looking forward to her last year of high school. Another year of living in the shadow of her best friend, Lila. Another year of hiding behind the covers of her favorite novels. Another year of navigating her tense relationship with her perfectionist mom.

But everything changes when she meets her new English teacher. Mr. Drummond is smart. Irreverent. Funny. Hot. Everyone loves him. And Charlie thinks he's the only one who gets her.

She also thinks she might not be the only one with a crush.

In this stunning debut, Jessica Alcott explores relationships-and their boundaries-in a way that is both searingly honest and sympathetic.

COMING JUNE 9th 2015

The first thing that caught my eye about this book is the cover. I love the chalkboard! Then I read the synopsis and it sounded like it could be a really emotional read. I have never actually read a book about a teacher and student romance and I thought I would give it a try. In the blurb they also say it is for fans of Sarah Dessen and well you all know, I love everything Sarah Dessen.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Rhiannon Thomas's dazzling debut novel is a spellbinding reimagining of Sleeping Beauty and what happens after happily ever after.

One hundred years after falling asleep, Princess Aurora wakes up to the kiss of a handsome prince and a broken kingdom that has been dreaming of her return. All the books say that she should be living happily ever after. But as Aurora understands all too well, the truth is nothing like the fairy tale.

Her family is long dead. Her "true love" is a kind stranger. And her whole life has been planned out by political foes while she slept.

As Aurora struggles to make sense of her new world, she begins to fear that the curse has left its mark on her, a fiery and dangerous thing that might be as wicked as the witch who once ensnared her. With her wedding day drawing near, Aurora must make the ultimate decision on how to save her kingdom: marry the prince or run.

Rhiannon Thomas weaves together vivid scenes of action, romance, and gorgeous gowns to reveal a richly imagined world … and Sleeping Beauty as she’s never been seen before.

REVIEW:

My favorite fairy tale retellings are the ones that put a different spin on the original tale. When I saw that this Sleeping Beauty was going to be taking place after the kiss and Aurora wakes up 100 years later in a world she no longer knows I immediately added this book to my to be read pile. Thankfully, my expectations were met.

The book literally starts right at the kiss, kicking the book off with a bang and throwing you right into the story. I found the whole book thoroughly enjoyable. Sleeping Beauty is actually a fairy tale that I do not know as well and Thomas did a great job reintroducing people like me to the world and the story. Not a lot actually happens plot wise but that does not mean it was boring. You can tell that Thomas is laying the ground work for the rest of the fantasy series, which I bet will pick up in suspense and action in the following books. The story was easy to follow and had great pacing. I flew right through this book in 24 hours.

I was very happy to see that this was a rare fairytale that did not evolve around a romance. There are three boys introduced, the prince she is supposed to marry, a rebel she meets outside of the castle, and a prince from another kingdom who tries to convince her to leave with him. These three boys give you enough to swoon over if you are looking for that but there is only a hint of romance introduced in the beginning of the book. And do not fear, there is no love triangle!

In the authors biography in the back flap it mentions that she blogs about feminism. I found that evident in the book which I really liked and I thought it added something special to the story. Aurora may start off in a world she doesn't know and does not know what to do but she is not a damsel in distress. She makes it very clear that she is her own person and I really enjoyed seeing a princess with a strong personality. This is not a love story or a book about a girl who needs saving, it is a story about a princess standing up and fighting for herself and her kingdom.

A Wicked Thing is a unique and interesting take on Sleeping Beauty with a strong female lead that you can read very fast.

Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.

With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.

REVIEW:

I have been trying to write this review for a while because it is so hard to put this book and how I feel about it into words. I've spent a lot of time thinking about what to write in this review because honestly my review will never be able to do this book justice. It is that good. This is a very needed addition to young adult literature.

This book is real. There are not enough books out there in young adult today that are very real. A lot of books about teens are over dramatic, glamorized, and don't honestly document the teen experience. Albertalli is able to document the teen experience perfectly with the topics she writes about and how the story is written. The events happening, the emotions, the dialogue, and the interactions were 100% teen authentic. This led me to feel more of a connection with the book because I could see these characters and these events in the hallways at my own school.

Simon and Blue are one of the most adorable couples I have read about in a while. Even though you don't get to see them together in person till the end of the book you are able to see their relationship through their emails that appear about every other chapter. You were able to read their conversations and see their chemistry build. This is couple you will definitely be rooting for!

The characters were excellent. Albertalli created characters that had all different types of personalities making it more relatable. You also get to see a sub plot of friendship dynamics which I enjoyed. The absolute stand out for this book though was Simon. Simon is probably one of my all time favorite characters. He was a real teenager, falling in love for the first time while trying to figure out his identity. Simon is funny, kind, and you just want to be his best friend. Simon impacted me so much and I can't even begin to imagine what he can do for someone going through the same situation as him.

Simon was the type of character that you get so connected with and invested in that you feel what he feels. The whole story when Simon hurt I hurt, when he had hope I was bursting with hope for him, and when good things happened for him I was giddy as can be and smiling till it hurt. Simon is a character you cannot help root for.

This book is a phenomenal read that young adults have been waiting for. I honestly can't even begin to put into words how special this book is. Trust me when I say you need to pick this up and read it, no matter what. This is a coming of age story you do not want to miss. Albertalli is an author to watch and I cannot wait to see what comes next from her.

Seventeen-year-old Violet’s entire life has revolved around one thing: becoming Erica Silverman, an heiress kidnapped at age five and never seen again. Violet’s father, the best con man in Las Vegas, has a plan, chilling in its very specific precision. Violet shares a blood type with Erica; soon, thanks to surgery and blackmail, she has the same face, body, and DNA. She knows every detail of the Silvermans’ lives, as well as the PTSD she will have to fake around them. And then, when the time is right, she “reappears”—Erica Silverman, brought home by some kind of miracle. But she is also Violet, and she has a job: Stay long enough to steal the Silverman Painting, an Old Master legendary in the Vegas crime world. Walking a razor’s edge, calculating every decision, not sure sometimes who she is or what she is doing it for, Violet is an unforgettable heroine, and Pretending to be Erica is a killer debut.

COMING JULY 21st 2015

I absolutely enjoy reading books about cons/thieves. They describe this as We Were Liars meets Heist Society which makes this sound amazing and intense!

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish! This weeks topic is the top ten characters we would like to check in with after the books have finished. I also added some couples to the list that I wish I could see how they are doing now.

About Me

Welcome readers! I am the founder of The Closet Library book blog, thanks for visiting! I am also the president of my library's teen advisory board located in New England. This blog is my own personal blog. Here is where I write reviews of different book titles (usually YA). I love to share my general love of books and reading with all of you guys!
If you are interested in me reviewing your book or being part of an event, please check out my policies page to find out more. Thanks for reading and come back again!